Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Nominated for 2 Academy Awards:

Best Director: John Singleton

Best Original Screenplay

Those who care about Academy Awards trivia might know that “John Singleton became the youngest director and the very first African-American in cinema history ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director” (imdb). Singleton was 24 at the time, so he did the film when he was 23 years old, which is remarkable. Especially considering it’s a film that clearly has something to say.

I liked the film, but I didn’t love it. I noticed some flaws when it came to directing (that ridiculous fake blood was so distracting) and some of the performances didn’t stand out for the right reasons, and yet others certainly did. Ice Cube is such a natural talent and he is great in this. The star of the film is the screenplay, that works even when it turns predictable; the dialogue is convincing, and the film is nicely structured. I kind of wish it was just a bit better directed.

I give it: 8/10

IMDB LINK